Japanese Studies

The Japanese Studies Program

The Japanese Studies Program at USF offers a robust Japanese Studies minor housed in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. The curriculum blends extensive language training with interdisciplinary coursework in Japanese culture, literature, linguistics, history, religion, and business. Upper-division language courses are content-based, allowing you to learn about all regions and prefectures of Japan in authentic Japanese while exploring their distinctive histories and cultures. This unique approach not only develops advanced language proficiency but also deepens your understanding of Japan as a whole, motivates you to travel throughout Japan, and encourages you to communicate with Japanese people at a level that can lead to meaningful opportunities.

The Japanese Practicum

The lower-division Japanese language courses include weekly language practicum sessions held nine times during the semester in addition to regular class meetings. Those sessions are led by the Japanese language course instructors. The language practicum is designed to provide you with extensive practice of the material covered in class and to help you review for the midterm and final exams.

The Japanese Writing Tutor

The upper-division Japanese language courses include weekly writing tutor sessions. You receive a 30-minute session, held nine times during the semester in addition to regular class meetings. The sessions are led by native Japanese-speaking graduate students or the Japanese language course instructors. The writing tutor helps you write project essays by assisting with brainstorming topic ideas, organizing essays, choosing an appropriate writing style, identifying grammatical and usage errors, and selecting appropriate kanji.

Japanese Studies Welcome and Year-End Parties

The Japanese Studies (JS) program holds an annual JS welcome party where all JS students, faculty, and tutors introduce one another, try on our cool Zen-circle T-shirts, share our study abroad and JET experiences, hear from our alumni, and eat sushi. We also have an annual JS year-end party where all JS students, faculty, and tutors come together to celebrate the successful completion of the academic year. Graduates will be awarded a unique Japanese Studies graduation stole.

Japanese Studies Cultural Events

The Japanese Studies program sponsors a range of Japanese cultural events, including kimono-wearing, tea ceremony, flower-arrangement, calligraphy, and origami demonstrations, giving you fun and memorable experiences with Japanese culture. These events are open to the USF community and the general public.

Japan Club

Enrolled students are invited to start a Japan Club for fun and friendship. Historically, the Club, together with the Japanese Studies Program, sponsors a variety of events mentioned above. The Club also visits Japan-related attractions in the Bay Area and participates in community activities, such as volunteering at the annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown. For more information, contact Professor Noriko Nagata (Japan Cub Advisor) at nagatan@usfca.edu.

Study Abroad

USF has an exchange program at Sophia University in Tokyo or the IES (Institute for the International Education of Students) program in Tokyo or Nagoya during the spring–summer term of your third year. Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to live in Japan, develop your Japanese language skills, and learn more about Japanese culture and society in real-life settings.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must have attained junior standing and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Students are required to submit the pre-application in the fall of their second year. All courses must be approved in advance by Professor Noriko Nagata (Director of the Japanese Studies Program) for Japanese Studies Major/Minor requirements and by the University Evaluator for transfer credits.

To apply for exchange programs, please contact the Center for Global Education.

Academic and Cultural Resources

San Francisco

San Francisco’s location on the Pacific Rim puts Japanese culture within your reach. Japantown, authentic restaurants, the Asian Art Museum, the Asia Foundation, the Japan Society of Northern California, the Japanese Tea Garden, and Buddhist temples are all just a bus ride or a short walk from campus. Japanese groceries, books, manga and anime, calligraphy materials, kimono, incense, bonsai, and many other exciting things are at your doorstep. Come do research, engage with the Japanese community, and enrich your knowledge of Japanese culture. Here are some links.